The second day of main-draw action at the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open WTA 125K Series delivered a series of authoritative performances from top international contenders, as Darja Semenistaja, Hanne Vandewinkel and Lanlana Tararudee all progressed comfortably into the Round of 16 at the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA).
It was, however, a difficult day for the home contingent, with Sahaja Yamalapalli, Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, Vaishnavi Adkar and Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi all bowing out of the singles draw despite spirited efforts.
Semenistaja picks up where she left off
Centre Court proceedings began with second seed Darja Semenistaja, the 2024 champion, making a confident return to Mumbai. Fresh from her Australian Open main-draw appearance, the Latvian was composed and clinical as she dismantled Italy’s Diletta Cherubini 6-3, 6-1.
Semenistaja’s ability to dictate play from the baseline and step inside the court on return ensured she remained in complete control. She broke early in both sets and never allowed Cherubini to settle, underlining why she remains one of the favourites to go deep into the tournament once again.
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Fourth seed Hanne Vandewinkel also made light work of her opening assignment, defeating Poland’s Zuzanna Pawlikowska 6-3, 6-3. The Belgian was particularly sharp on serve and used her flat groundstrokes effectively to keep Pawlikowska pinned behind the baseline.
Thailand’s Lanlana Tararudee, seeded fifth, rounded off the day with a mature display against Indian wildcard Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi. While the 16-year-old Indian showed flashes of the fearless shot-making that made her a semi-finalist here last season, Tararudee’s experience and tactical discipline proved decisive as she closed out a 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Tararudee absorbed Maaya’s early aggression and forced errors through consistent depth and controlled point construction, never allowing the youngster to build sustained momentum.
Indian hopes fade despite fighting performances
India’s No.1 women’s singles player Sahaja Yamalapalli was the first home player in action, but she was unable to convert a promising start into a victory against Japan’s Eri Shimizu. Sahaja competed strongly in a tight opening set, creating multiple opportunities, but Shimizu held firm to take it 7-5 before pulling away to claim the match 7-5, 6-2.
Vaishnavi Adkar, Maharashtra’s top-ranked player, pushed Austrian teenager Lilli Tagger hard in a competitive contest. Adkar matched Tagger shot for shot for long stretches, but the French Open junior champion raised her level at key moments to seal a 7-5, 6-4 win.
There was also disappointment for Shrivalli Bhamidipaty, who was outplayed by Kristiana Sidorova. The latter’s depth and consistency from the baseline proved too strong, with Sidorova taking the match 6-1, 6-3.
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Elsewhere, Morocco’s Yasmine Kabbaj continued her steady form by dismissing Thailand’s Peangtarn Plipuech 6-3, 6-3 in a controlled performance.
China’s Fangran Tian was dominant against Japan’s Rina Saigo, racing through the first set without dropping a game before sealing a 6-0, 6-3 win. Ninth seed Tatiana Prozorova had one of the most straightforward victories of the day, defeating Indonesia’s Priska Nugroho 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour.
South Korea’s Sohyun Park advanced when her opponent Mingge Xu was forced to retire after losing the first set 6-1.
With the Indian singles contingent now out of the tournament, attention turns fully to the international contenders as the competition moves into its decisive phase. Semenistaja, Vandewinkel, Tararudee and several others have laid down early markers, and the Round of 16 is set to bring higher-quality matchups as seeds begin to clash.
With players from Asia and Europe asserting their dominance, the Mumbai Open continues to reinforce its status as one of the most competitive WTA 125 events on the calendar a proving ground where rising stars and seasoned campaigners collide under the hot Mumbai sun.
The tournament continues on Wednesday with the Round of 16 matches, as the race for the 2026 L&T Mumbai Open title intensifies.
